Fibrous sheet disintegrating in water, process for manufacturing said fibrous sheet, use of said fibrous sheet for the manufacture of a core

ABSTRACT

A fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m 2  being manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrating in water in less than 120 seconds, has 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet. The sheet may be used for the manufacture of a water disintegrable core in a roll of tissue paper.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of a disintegrable fibrous sheet, in particular paper sheet, and to a disintegrable fibrous sheet, in particular paper sheet. It relates in particular to the use of this sheet for the manufacture of a core forming a roll support. The invention is used in the field of paper for sanitary or domestic use, in the form of a core, in particular a support core for a toilet paper roll, or a tampon applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paper for sanitary or domestic use, such as toilet paper, paper towels or wipes, are in certain cases packaged in the form of rolls on a core.

The core is a cylinder, generally made of cardboard, which is discarded after the paper of the roll has been consumed. The core fulfils several functions:

-   -   It serves as support on which the paper sheet is wound during         manufacture of the roll. In general, the rolls are manufactured         from a very wide master sheet, also called jumbo roll, which is         wound around a tube of corresponding length, and the roll         obtained is sawn into individual rolls of the desired width;     -   it keeps the central hole open by withstanding the internal         stresses of the roll and preventing the internal turns of the         winding from collapsing; and     -   it keeps the roll in shape by withstanding the crushing forces         along its axis or the transverse forces to which the roll is         subjected during transportation or during the various handling         operations before it is used.

The core is generally obtained by the helical winding and bonding of one or more flat cardboard strips around a cylindrical former.

Flat cardboard is an inexpensive material, which may be made from recycle fibres. It is also light and its mechanical strength is sufficient for this use.

However, it has the drawback of not being able to be reused or of being rarely utilized in another form after the roll has been consumed and of becoming a waste product.

In the case of toilet paper, it is not recommended to dispose of the standard core by attempting to discharge it with the wastewater as, although composed predominantly of papermaking fibres, it disintegrates slowly on contact with water and generally fails to be removed from the toilet bowl or else it forms a plug and obstructs toilet drain lines before it can be flushed away by the flow.

The Applicant set itself the objective of producing a core for a roll that can be easily discharged with the wastewater of a domestic sanitary facility.

More particularly:

-   -   The core must quickly disintegrate on contact with water;     -   the material must disintegrate in water at a rate sufficient for         it to be discharged before forming a plug; the rate at which it         disintegrates must be comparable, for the same mass, to that of         the tissue paper of which the rolls are generally composed;     -   the core must have a crush resistance, both in the radial         direction and the axial direction, of the same order of         magnitude as that of the cardboard that it is intended to         replace;     -   The core must be as easy and as simple to produce as         conventional cardboard cores; and     -   The core must be manufactured with renewable materials; it         should have no negative impact in paper recycling processes nor         water treatment plants processes as well.

PRIOR ART

Products in sheet or other form, produced with papermaking fibres and starch, are known.

EP 415 385 describes the manufacture of a paper sheet with incorporation of a water-insoluble modified starch, a starch urea phosphate, which is gelatinized during drying, the gelatinization temperature of said starch being relatively low, namely between 35° C. and 55° C. The objective is to improve the dry strength of the sheet obtained and avoid filling of the wire in the paper machine during the manufacturing process.

EP 1 630 288 describes an embossed and impregnated paper sheet, disintegrable in water, intended for use as a cleaning sheet as a wet wipe. It contains a water-soluble binder, such as a polysaccharide or a synthetic polymer, and an aqueous agent associated with an agent that makes the water-soluble binder temporarily insoluble. According to the examples given, the sheet disintegrates in 30 to 40 seconds, the disintegration speed being measured using the standard method referenced JIS P4501 applied to a square specimen of paper sheet weighing 0.3 g.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,857 describes a biodegradable product, for example taking the form of a sheet. It consists of a starch matrix reinforced with papermaking fibres or the like and is obtained by moulding. The prior mixture consists of at least ungelatinized starch, fibres and water. The product is obtained by moulding the mixture.

A polymer such as cellulosic ether is added so as to form a film on the surface, which prevents sticking during manufacture of the product.

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The qualities of the core are at least partly dependent on the constituent fibrous sheet.

Fibrous Sheet Made Predominantly of Papermaking Fibres

In accordance with the invention, the fibrous sheet has a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m², is manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrates in water in less than 120 seconds said fibrous sheet comprising 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.

The term “disintegration” corresponds to the definition of total disintegration given in NF Q34-020 standard i.e. there are no more important pieces and the dispersion of the pieces is homogeneous. A fibrous sheet according to the invention, is disintegrable when it disintegrates in water in less than 120 seconds.

The term “wet papermaking process” means a method of manufacturing a paper sheet while using a wet-end sheet forming. More precisely, this method comprises a pulp or furnish preparation section, a wet forming section, a press section for removing water and a dry section. The furnish preparation section consists in mixing the different components including fibres, fillers and additives with water for providing the aqueous suspension or furnish. The wet forming section can be implemented on a flat table such as a Fourdrinier table or any other cylindrical forming apparatus. The headbox can be provided with one jet or multiple jets distributor. The press section consists in removing water by mechanically pressing the web. The dry section can comprise a conventional dryer such as drying drums, Yankee dryer, through air drying cylinders, infrared dryers, and the like to remove water by heat exchange. Then the thus obtained sheet is wounded on a reel as a final product.

The term “cellulosic”, “cellulosic fibre” and the like is meant to include any fibre incorporating cellulose as a major constituent. “Papermaking fibres” means cellulosic fibres and includes virgin pulps or recycle (secondary) cellulosic fibres or fibre mixtures comprising reconstituted cellulosic fibres. Cellulosic fibres suitable for making the fibrous sheet of this invention include: non wood fibres, such as cotton fibres or cotton derivatives, abaca, kenaf, sabai grass, flax, esparto grass, straw, jute hemp, bagasse, milkweed floss fibres, and pineapple leaf fibres; and wood fibres such as those obtained from deciduous and coniferous trees, including softwood fibres, such as Northern and Southern softwood Kraft fibres; hardwood fibres, such as Eucalyptus, maple, birch, aspen, or the like. Papermaking fibres used in connection with the invention include naturally occurring pulp-derived fibres as well as reconstituted cellulosic fibres such as lyocell or rayon. Pulp-derived fibres are liberated from their source material by any one of a number of pulping processes familiar to one experienced in the art including sulfate, sulfite, polysulfide, soda pulping, etc. The pulp can be bleached if desired by chemical means including the use of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, alkaline peroxide and so forth. Naturally occurring pulp-derived fibres are referred to herein simply as “pulp-derived” papermaking fibres. The products of the present invention may comprise a blend of conventional fibres (whether derived from virgin pulp or recycle sources) and high coarseness lignin-rich tubular fibres, such as bleached chemical thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP). Pulp-derived fibres thus also include high yield fibres such as BCTMP as well as thermomechanical pulp (TMP), chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) and alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP). “Furnishes” and like terminology refer to aqueous compositions including papermaking fibres, optionally wet strength resins, de-bonders and the like for making paper products

Kraft softwood fibre is low yield fibre made by the well known Kraft (sulfate) pulping process from coniferous material and includes Northern and Southern softwood Kraft fibre, Douglas fir Kraft fibre and so forth. Kraft softwood fibres generally have a lignin content of less than 5 percent by weight, a length weighted average fibre length of greater than 2 mm, as well as an arithmetic average fibre length of greater than 0.6 mm.

Kraft hardwood fibre is made by the Kraft process from hardwood sources, i.e., Eucalyptus and also has generally a lignin content of less than 5 percent by weight. Kraft hardwood fibres are shorter than Softwood fibres, typically having a length weighted average fibre length of less than 1.2 mm and an arithmetic average length of less than 0.5 mm or less than 0.4 mm.

Recycle fibre may be added to the furnish in any amount. While any suitable recycle fibre may be used, recycle fibre with relatively low levels of groundwood is preferred in many cases, for example, recycle fibre with less than 3.5% by weight lignin content, or less than 10% by weight lignin content may be preferred depending on the furnish mixture employed and the application.

In addition, the fibrous sheet according to the invention can also contain non-cellulosic fibres such as synthetic polymer fibres and the like. This terminology refers to fibre made from synthetic polymers such as polyesters, nylons and polyolefins and so forth. Polyesters are generally obtained by known polymerization techniques from aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acids with saturated aliphatic or aromatic diols.

More particularly, the fibrous sheet has at least one of the following features:

-   -   Starch is substantially uniformly distributed through the         thickness of the fibrous sheet. The term “substantially uniform”         means that the starch is distributed right through the thickness         of the sheet so as to provide most of the links between the         fibres, and is also present on the external surfaces of the         sheet.     -   It comprises 15 to 40%, preferably 20 to 35% starch on the basis         of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.     -   The basis weight is between 100 and 600 g/m² preferably between         130 and 400 g/m².     -   The water-disintegration of a specimen of 8×9 cm² of the sheet         measured in accordance with the NF Q34-020 standard is less than         50 seconds, preferably less than 35 seconds and more         particularly less than 15 seconds.     -   The loss of strength measured according to the table test as         reported in the specification corresponds to the loss of         strength of a specimen of said sheet forming an angle of at         least 85°, preferably from 88° to 90°, after having being wetted         with water for a duration of 6 seconds.     -   The residual strength of the sheet in the wet state compared         with its dry state, as measured according to the ring crush test         described in the following specification, is less than 1%.     -   The sheet contains additives for providing a function additional         to that of the starch, such as disinfectants, cleaning agents,         dyes or fragrances.

Use of the Sheet, e.g. as a Core

The fibrous sheet of the invention is used for the manufacture of a core for supporting a roll, especially a roll of paper and more particularly a roll of cellulose wadding or tissue paper, by one or more strips from said sheet being wound helically around a cylinder. The choice of sheet basis weight depends on the number of strips, designated as strands, of which the core is composed.

The structure of the core according to the invention thus has the advantage of allowing controlled disintegration combined with strength comparable to that of cardboard.

The invention is also directed to the toilet paper roll comprising a core thus manufactured. Thus, when the roll is consumed, the core can be discharged with the waste water of a domestic sanitary facility and flushed away since it disintegrates very quickly.

The fibrous sheet according to the invention can also be used for a tampon applicator.

The fibrous sheet of the invention may be obtained by a process employing a starch insoluble in water at the temperature at which it is incorporated (process I) or else by a process employing (water-insoluble and/or water-soluble) starch (process II).

Process I for Manufacturing a Sheet with a Starch Insoluble in Cold Water.

The process for manufacturing a fibrous sheet that disintegrates in water in less than 120 seconds, comprises a step of preparing a pulp by suspending said fibres in water, a step of forming the fibrous sheet from said pulp and a drying step. This process is characterized in that it further comprises the steps of adding, before said drying step, a starch which is not soluble in water at the temperature at which it is incorporated, and drying the sheet containing the starch at a temperature high enough to gelatinize at least some of the starch. The purpose is to make the starch soluble in water so that the sheet is disintegrable.

The expression “water-insoluble starch” is understood to mean a starch which, when it is incorporated, mixed with water and stirred, essentially forms a suspension. In other words, the starch grains or particles remain predominantly suspended in water. When the stirring is stopped, the starch particles precipitate. The temperature at which it is incorporated is below the gelatinization temperature of the starch.

From a minimum of basis weight of the sheet, e.g. 150 g/m², most of the starch particles are thus retained by the fibrous mat and are therefore not entrained with the white water during dewatering on the forming table or in the presses. The degree of starch retention is therefore high.

Starch comprises natural products of plant origin, such as wheat, maize, potato, rice, tapioca or sorghum starches, and other starches, composed of polymers or polysaccharides of high molecular weight. The plant matter is treated by grinding-steeping and centrifugation in order to extract the starch. Native starch corresponds to the product extracted without molecular modification. Native starch is insoluble in water—it behaves as filler. The starch is mixed, with stirring, into excess water so as to form a starch suspension. When the temperature of the starch suspension rises, water penetrates into the starch particles, these starch particles swell and the suspension is converted into a colloidal solution which thickens, gelatinizes and becomes viscous. The gelatinization temperature depends on the plant: maize 60-72° C.; wheat 60-65°; tapioca 52-64° C.; potato 58-66° C. By continuing to heat, the particles burst and the macromolecules constituting the starch emerge from the particles and dissolve in water. The presence of water in sufficient amounts is essential for this gelatinization and dissolution of the starch.

Starch also comprises products derived from natural starch, which are converted by a physical, chemical and physico-chemical treatment or by a biological treatment, for example an enzyme treatment, and derived or modified starches such as cationic, anionic, amphoteric, non-ionic or cross-linked starches and products resulting from starch hydrolysis, such as maltodextrins. These starches are termed modified starches.

The preferred starches that can be used in the process, in so far as they are insoluble in water, may thus be modified starches.

Preferably, a tuber starch is used, such as potato starch, since the particles are relatively coarser than those of other starches, for example maize starch, and has a higher retention in the sheet.

A preferred starch is an anionic modified potato starch, such as a starch marketed under the name Perfectacote A35 from Avebe, or a non ionic starch named Stackote 6 form National Starch. Preferred starches present a substitution grade of 0.01 to 0.07 wherein the substituted groups are carboxylic groups. These starches have a low viscosity at the gelatinization temperature (52° C. for Perfectacote A35) that remains very stable with the time. For the present use this property is favourable to a good distribution within the fibrous sheet.

Preferably, the aim is to gelatinize all the starch present in the sheet and provide a starch distribution through the whole thickness of the sheet.

The process according to the invention advantageously includes a step of pressing the sheet before the drying step.

The water-insoluble starch is incorporated into the process water, which is at a temperature generally below 50° C.

The water-insoluble starch is advantageously incorporated into the pulp upstream of the forming table. The starch suspension may thus be uniformly mixed with the pulp fibres.

It may also be envisioned, although this is not optimal, to incorporate the water-insoluble starch when the sheet is on the forming wire, especially by spraying it onto the sheet or by any other conventional means of application.

The water-insoluble starch is supplied in an amount sufficient to give the sheet the abovementioned properties.

According to another feature, the sheet is dried with the temperature being progressively raised so as to reach complete gelatinization of the starch and to make it soluble. By progressively raising the temperature, it is possible to control the amount of water present in the sheet at the gelatinization temperature and to maintain a sufficient amount of water for making all the particles burst. This allows the fibrous sheet to be disintegrable.

The invention does not exclude the possibility of adding an additional step consisting in depositing a certain amount of starch by couching in the drying section so as to give the paper sheet a particular property, provided that this additional layer does not impair the disintegration of the sheet.

Process II for Manufacturing a Sheet with a Water-Soluble or Water Insoluble Starch.

The process for manufacturing a fibrous sheet that disintegrates in water in less than 120 seconds is characterized in that it comprises the steps of suspending fibres in water, forming at least a first fibrous ply and a second fibrous ply with said fibres, depositing a starch on the second fibrous ply, depositing the first fibrous ply on the second one, joining the two plies together as a fibrous sheet and drying the fibrous sheet.

The number of plies is not limited to two—the sheet may comprise at least three plies, for example up to about ten plies. The starch can be deposited between the plies after they have been formed, but this is not mandatory.

The starch is supplied in an amount sufficient to give the sheet the above properties.

When a water-soluble starch is chosen, its rate of dissolution depends on the amount of water present in the fibrous ply formed by wet processing. It is thus capable of giving the sheet both dry strength and solubility in water.

Usually, water-soluble starches are modified starches including maltodextrins compounds. Some examples of such starches are AVEDEX (dextrinized potato starch) from AVEBE, CARGILL MD01904 (maltodextrins) from CARGILL.

When water-insoluble starch is chosen, it is referred to the starch mentioned in the description of process I.

According to a preferred embodiment, the starch is supplied dry, in the form of a powder or in the form of a sheet or a film. This embodiment is advantageous in so far as the starch is activated by the water present in the fibrous plies without supplying additional water.

According to another feature, the sheet is pressed, before drying or calendered after drying, in order to obtain a sheet after drying with a density between 450 kg/m³ and 650 kg/m³.

Use of Starch

The invention has for its object the use of a water-insoluble starch for the manufacture of a fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m², manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrating in water in less than 120 seconds, said fibrous sheet comprising 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invent ion, a combination of water-insoluble starch and water-soluble starch is used for the manufacture of such a fibrous sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Two non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a paper machine seen in a side view used for the manufacture of a sheet of heavy paper according to process I suitable for the production of a core according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a paper machine seen in a side view used for the manufacture of a sheet of heavy paper according to process II.

FIG. 3 shows a photograph of an electron microscope magnification (×100) of a transverse section of the sheet manufactured according to process I of the invention before drying.

FIG. 4 shows a photograph of an electron microscope magnification (×2000) of a transverse section of the sheet manufactured according to process I of the invention after drying.

MANUFACTURE ACCORDING TO PROCESS I

Process I is implemented on a paper machine 1, which is itself conventional, as presented in FIG. 1. It is shown from the upstream end to the downstream end in the direction of manufacture. The pulp is contained in the chest 2 in which the fibres are kept in suspension and the additives are incorporated; the paper pulp is pumped into the head box 3, which in particular comprises a pulp distributor in the form of a blade, designated “jet” extending over the entire width of the machine. The pulp is deposited on the endless wire 4 of the forming table 5. This wire 4 forms a loop and runs endlessly around the parallel rollers of the table supporting it. It is jerked laterally so as to undergo a reciprocating motion that promotes uniform formation of the paper sheet and dewatering thereof. The fibres are aligned along the run direction of the wire. The paper sheet contains 75 to 85% water on leaving the table. The sheet is introduced into the press section 6 where the water content is reduced to 60 or 70%. The presses comprise several pairs of rubber-coated cylinders. This operation also increases the density of the sheet and improves its surface finish by mechanical action.

The paper sheet then enters the dry end, designated the drying section, of the paper machine, which comprises a plurality of dryers 7. The dryers 7 are cast iron drums heated internally with steam at a temperature high enough for the water contained in the sheet to be progressively evaporated until at least 90% dryness is achieved. Conventionally, the surface temperature of the drums is around 95° C. The sheet is held against the dryers by a heavy cotton felt or a drying fabric composed of cotton and artificial fibres.

The conventional machines for manufacturing printing or writing paper also include size presses, for surface treatment and for deposition of an appropriate composition, and optionally a breaker stack or calendering station before the paper is wound up into a reel. This reel is then used as master reel in the subsequent conversion steps.

In the present invention, the paper is essentially dried in the drying section before being reeled up.

To manufacture the sheet C of the invention, starch is added in the wet end of the paper machine before the press. Preferably, the starch is incorporated in the form of a suspension in water.

The starch may be deposited on the sheet by spraying, while said sheet is resting on the wire 4 as it travels along the forming table 5.

The starch may be introduced further upstream, prior to sheet formation. An advantageous zone for introducing it is located at the inlet of the transfer pump between the chest and the head box. Thus, the starch remains in suspension in the manufacturing composition introduced into the head box.

According to an important feature of process I of the invention, the starch introduced at this stage is not soluble in water. It becomes soluble as the sheet passes through the drying section. The temperature of the successive dryers is advantageously regulated in such a way that the temperature of the sheet is gradually raised until reaching the gelatinization temperature of the starch that it contains. The temperature of the successive drums may be controlled between 60° C. and 100° C. The purpose is to maintain a sufficient amount of water in the sheet for gelatinization to effectively take place and to allow the starch to become soluble. If the amount of water were to be insufficient, some of the starch would not be gelatinized. Once the starch in the sheet has gelatinized and become soluble, said sheet can continue to be dried to the desired dryness.

The pressing, drying and are adapted so as to obtain the desired final moisture content of the product.

The sheet thus continuously produced is reeled up for subsequent use.

The manufacturing parameters of the sheet C are determined so as to obtain a core having the desired properties.

The fibres used are long, short or recycle papermaking fibres and also mixtures thereof.

The water-insoluble starch is preferably chosen so that the size of the insoluble particles is large enough not to easily filter through the wet sheet, for example with a particle diameter higher than 20 microns.

It is also possible to incorporate other additives providing an additional function, such as disinfectants, cleaning agents or perfumes.

Retention agents may also be added so as to improve the retention of starch in the sheet, in particular for sheets of low weight.

Preferably, the starch is coloured so as to check that the binder is correctly distributed through the thickness. In addition, it represents an improvement in aesthetic terms.

Experimental Manufacturing Trial According to Process I on a Pilot Fourdrinier Paper Machine.

The machine comprised three dryer units each composed of two cylinders.

A 270 g/m² paper sheet containing about 33% starch was manufactured.

A pulp having a 2.5% concentration was prepared in a 10 m³ chest.

The pulp, having a mass of 250 kg, was made up of:

-   -   35% starch, i.e. 97.2 kg of starch; and     -   162.5 kg of fibres, one quarter being long fibres and three         quarters being short fibres.

After mixing, the content of the mixing chest was transferred to the chest of the machine.

480 m of paper were manufactured.

The dryness was:

-   -   On leaving the Fourdrinier, between 16 and 17%;     -   On leaving the presses, 57%; and     -   At reel-up, 91%,         for a dry weight of 243 g/m².

The temperatures of the six drying cylinders were controlled so as to have a progressive rise in temperature.

The starch content, which was measured in the sheet, was on average 33% relative to the total dry weight of the sheet.

A Manufacturing Example According to Process II is Now Described

According to the manufacturing example illustrated in FIG. 2, the paper machine 100 comprises a first unit 102 for forming a ply of papermaking fibres by wet processing on a Fourdrinier table, shown here, or else on a cylinder mould. The ply C′1 is formed by depositing, via the head box 121, a pulp formed from papermaking fibres suspended in water on the permeable moving wire 122 of the first forming table 120. The wire forms a loop and runs endlessly around the parallel rollers supporting it. The ply C′1 undergoes a first dewatering step as it travels along with the wire 122.

The first fibrous ply C′1 is taken up by a pick-up felt 130 which moves translationally in a loop around parallel support rollers, one 131 of which presses on the first ply C′1, which is partly dewatered, at the end of travel on the flat portion of the forming table 120 around the roller 123. The first ply C′1 is transported by the felt to a second Fourdrinier table 140 of the second unit 104 for forming a second ply C′2 of papermaking fibres. This ply C′2 is formed here, like the first, by depositing, via a head box 141, a pulp with a fibrous suspension on the moving wire 142 of the table 140. The fibrous ply C′2 thus formed is dewatered like the first one through the permeable wire. The pick-up felt presses via a roller 132 on the second fibrous ply C′2 so as to take off the second ply at the cylinder 143 at the end of the table 140. The two fibrous plies are joined together as a single sheet C′ which is directed towards the gap left between two rollers of a press 105 for extracting a further portion of the water from the two plies while pressing the sheet. The sheet is then guided towards the drying unit (not shown), which may be conventional. In such an installation for manufacturing multiply sheets, the number of plies is not limited to two.

To manufacture the sheet C′ of the invention, a system 106 for depositing starch L, in powder form, is placed upstream of the two cylinders 132 and 143. The system used enables the powder to be distributed uniformly in the desired amount over the width of the second fibrous ply C′2 and in a regular fashion in the run direction of the machine. Equipment comprising a product storage hopper, a product metering device and an oscillating brush is used to fulfil all these conditions. In industrial manufacture, the ply of papermaking fibres, here C′2, which is formed by wet processing and on which the starch is deposited, has a dryness ranging from about 10% to about 15%.

A powdered water-soluble starch is deposited on the second ply of papermaking fibres C′2—before the two plies are placed against each other and pressed together—when the ply is sufficiently dewatered and has a dryness sufficient to retain the product in the structure of the ply and to limit the removal of some of the starch with the dewatering water.

The deposited starch is sandwiched between the two plies thus formed, still in the wet state, and reacts with the residual water of each ply.

The fibre ply/starch/fibre ply complex is transported by the felt 130 to the pressing zone 105, the operating conditions of which are adapted, and then into the zone of the machine for drying the sheet.

It is possible to have other means for forming additional plies, whether or not associated with powder deposition means, so as to form a sheet that may comprise, for example, up to ten plies.

The sheet thus continuously produced is reeled up for subsequent use.

The manufacturing parameters of the sheet C′ are determined so as to obtain a core having the desired properties.

The fibres used are long, short or recycle papermaking fibres and also mixtures thereof.

It is possible to incorporate other additives providing an additional function, such as disinfectants, cleaning agents or perfumes.

Preferably, the starch is coloured so as to check that the starch is correctly distributed on both sides. In addition, it represents an improvement in aesthetic terms.

The amount deposited is between 35 and 150 g/m².

The amount of starch in the sheet is therefore between about 10% and about 70% of the total mass of the sheet after drying.

The pressed fibrous sheet has a density between 450 kg/m³ and 650 kg/m³.

When dry water-soluble starch is incorporated, it has the advantage of using the water in the two plies to activate the starch. The pressing also ensures that the starch is correctly distributed through the mass of fibres.

Manufacture of the Core

The paper sheet was cut into narrow strips or strands that were then wound in a helix around a cylindrical former. An adhesive was applied to the overlapping parts of the turns so as to bond them together and form a rigid tube. Generally for the core of a roll of toilet paper, one or two strands are wound.

The technique for manufacturing the cores is known per se. It is adapted according to the nature of the binder in so far as it is necessary to take into account the rapid disintegration of the strips by the adhesive used to join the strands together.

Tests

Core Compression, Disintegration and Down-Toilet Discharge Tests Carried Out with a Sheet Obtained According to Process I

The characteristics of a single-strand core A manufactured according to manufacturing process I were the following:

-   -   weight of the sheet: 270 g/m²;     -   quality of the fibres: long fibre/short fibre mixture in the         virgin pulp;     -   starch reference: PERFECTACOTE A35 (modified water-insoluble         starch) sold by the company Avebe;     -   amount of starch retained by the finished sheet: 90 g/m², 33%         starch;     -   number of wall thicknesses of the cylinder: 1;     -   weight of the wall of the cylinder: 270 g/m²; and     -   diameter and length of the cylinder forming the core: 40 mm and         97 mm respectively.

Core Compression Test:

The lateral compressive strength of the core was measured using the following method.

The core to be tested was firstly cut into a cylindrical portion bounded by two opposed faces, perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, said portion having a length of 50 mm in a direction parallel to the axis.

This cylindrical portion was then positioned between the two metal plates of a testing machine, said plates being mutually parallel and initially separated by a distance slightly greater than the length of the cylindrical portion.

The cylindrical portion was placed so as to orient the axis of the cylinder along a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by one or other of the plates.

Said cylindrical portion was then compressed between the two plates, with measurements for a compression distance of 15 mm, at which the force in newtons was recorded.

Concomitantly, the resistance presented by the core was measured up to its maximum, i.e. just before the core was irreversibly destroyed.

Five measurements were taken each time and the average of the measurements was calculated.

The results are given in the table below together with those of a control core made of a one-strand cardboard also with a wall weight of 280 g/m².

Lateral compressive Weight Mass strength Cardboard 280 g/m² 3.9 g 272.8 ± 9.6 N control core Tested core A 270 g/m² 3.6 g  294 ± 12.5 N

This therefore shows that a core according to the invention containing 33% starch has a lateral strength at least equal to that of a conventional cardboard core.

Given that the principal stresses undergone by the core during its production/roll delivery cycle are essentially exerted on the edge, it may be considered that the core according to the invention completely meets the requirements therefore.

Core Disintegration Test:

The disintegration of the core A as manufactured above was measured in accordance with the NF Q34-020 standard.

The principle consisted in subjecting a specimen of the product to stirring in a certain volume of water. The time required for the specimen to disintegrate was measured.

This test was applied with the specimen of toilet-paper replaced with a specimen of the sheet according to the invention and a specimen of the cylinder forming the core according to the invention. More precisely, the specimen of the sheet was a specimen measuring 9 centimetres by 8 centimetres, i.e. an area of 72 cm², and the specimen of the core was a cylindrical specimen 5 centimetres in length. The stirring speed is the one of the standard method: 800 revolutions per minute.

The material, equipment and operating method are described in detail in the standard. It should be noted that complete disintegration corresponds to the moment when the pieces of the specimen move from the bottom of the beaker to the top of the stirrer, in other words when there are no longer large pieces beneath the impeller and when the dispersion of the pieces is uniform. At this time T, it is no longer possible to observe an appreciable change in state of the paper between the time T and the time T+5 seconds. The water used for this test was mains water.

It was observed that the specimen of the sheet according to the invention disintegrated very easily. Less than 15 seconds were required for the structure of the sheet to disintegrate and a fibrous suspension was obtained in less than 60 seconds.

The specimen of the cardboard control sheet having a weight of 280 g/m² only started to fall apart after 30 seconds, and the sheet was converted into pieces after 3 minutes. Pieces with a size greater than 1 cm² still remained after 10 minutes.

It was also observed that the specimen of the core according to the invention formed from a single strip of 270 g/m² weight started to disintegrate in water more rapidly than a similar cardboard core obtained by winding a single cardboard strip having a weight of 280 g/m².

The term “similar core” should be understood to mean a core having approximately the same diameter and the same length as the core of the invention.

The specimen of the core according to the invention therefore disintegrated more rapidly than a similar cardboard core. This is because the specimen of the core according to the invention disintegrated in 10 to 15 seconds and a fibrous suspension was obtained in a time of less than 60 seconds.

The turns of the control core specimen opened up after about 60 seconds and the control specimen was in the state of large pieces after 7 minutes. After 10 minutes, pieces greater in size than 1 cm² still remained.

Moreover, again for comparison, it was observed in the Afnor NF Q34-020 test that the turns of a 400 g/m² two-strand cardboard core came unstuck after 60 seconds, the core only starting to disintegrate after 3 minutes. It disintegrated completely after 10 minutes, but cardboard pieces remained.

Core Discharge Test:

The discharge of the core in a domestic sanitary facility was checked based on the test method described in the guide published by EDANA (European Disposables & Nonwovens Association) for discharging wipes down toilets (FG 510.1 TIER 1 Toilet bowl & drainline clearance test).

The characteristics of the equipment, the test conditions and the test protocol are defined in this test method.

More precisely, two steps were studied in the application of this test to the cores:

-   -   1) discharge of the core down the toilet bowl: the core must         disappear from the bowl after the flush has be actuated; and     -   2) elimination of the core from the drain line.

The equipment used for this test was a conventional toilet comprising a floor-standing bowl, a flushing mechanism, a water flush tank and a drain line. The drain line was a transparent plastic tube enabling the change in the products discharged down the bowl to be displayed. This line had a diameter of 100 millimetres and a length of 20 meters, and was installed with a slope of 2%.

The method consisted in introducing a series of ten cores into the bowl using the following procedure: a core was thrown into the bowl and then the flush actuated. The volume of this water flush was 5.5 litres. It was then checked whether the core had been discharged from the bowl and its position in the line was recorded. The operation was repeated with the ten cores, each time recording the position of the cores that were still in the line. Finally, complete removal of the core on leaving the line was noted.

The core according to the invention, namely a single-strand 270 g/m² core, was tested and passed the down-bowl discharge test and the removal-from-the-line test.

The similar 280 g/m² cardboard single-strand core did not even pass the down-bowl discharge test.

Compression and Disintegration Tests on the Core Made of a Sheet Obtained by Process II

Cores were produced using process II.

The characteristics of the core manufactured were the following:

-   -   weight of each fibrous ply: 45 g/m2;     -   quality of the fibres: long-fibre/short-fibre mixture in the         virgin pulp;     -   water-soluble starch reference: AVEDEX from AVEBE;     -   amount of starch retained by the finished sheet: 90 g/m², 50% of         starch     -   number of fibrous plies: 2;     -   weight of the sheet: 180 g/m²;     -   number of thicknesses of the wall of the cylinder: 2; and     -   weight of the wall of the cylinder: 360 g/m².

A water-soluble starch was chosen so that it dissolved rapidly at high concentration.

Manufacture in the laboratory was carried out as follows:

Formation of a fibrous ply of 10% dryness, deposition of the ply on a wire, deposition of powdered starch, joining to another fibrous ply of 10% dryness, pressing by a roller for dewatering purposes and joining of the plies, take-off of the sheet thus formed and drying between two metal wires at 110° C.

A cylindrical core was then manufactured from two sheets formed as above.

The diameter and length of the cylinder forming the core were 40 mm and 97 mm.

Core Compression Test:

The compressive strength of the core in flat compression and in lateral compression was measured.

Five measurements were taken each time, and the average of the measurements was calculated.

The results are given in the table below, together with those of a control core made of a one-strand cardboard with a wall weight of 365 g/m².

15 mm flat Lateral compression compression Cardboard control 5.64 ± 0.50 272.8 ± 9.6  core Core D with 30% 6.15 ± 0.92 118 ± 25 starch Core E with 50% 12.11 ± 1.55  265 ± 41 starch Data expressed in N

This table therefore shows that a core according to the invention containing 50% starch has a lateral strength similar to that of a cardboard core and that, in this case, the flat compressive strength is greater than that of a similar core made of cardboard.

Given that the principal stresses undergone by the core during its production/roll delivery cycle are essentially exerted flat, it may be considered that the core according to the invention completely meets the requirements therefore.

Core Disintegration Test:

The disintegration of the core as manufactured above was measured in accordance with the NF Q34-020 standard.

It was found that the core breaks up very easily, in less than 10 s, to destroy the structure, and that a fibrous suspension is obtained after about 30 s.

It was also observed that the core according to the invention starts to disintegrate in water more rapidly than a similar cardboard core obtained by winding a single strip of cardboard having a weight of 280 g/m².

The core according to the invention therefore disintegrates more rapidly than a similar cardboard core, formed from a single strip with a weight of 280 g/m², whether or not there is any stirring.

Fibrous Sheets Illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4

FIG. 3 is a photograph of an electron microscope magnification of a transverse section of the sheet 200 manufactured according to process I of the invention before drying. The transverse section of the sheet is the plan between the arrows represented on the FIG. 3.

The starch particles 202 are substantially uniformly distributed through the whole thickness of the sheet before the drying section.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of an electron microscope magnification of a portion of the sheet 300 according to the invention. We observe that the papermaking fibres are coated with starch. The starch forms a network 302 throughout the sheet that connects the fibres together in substitution for a part of hydrogen bonds. When the sheet is placed in contact with water, starch absorbs water and dissolves rapidly. Since the fibres are no more bound by the starch, they dissociate from each other very quickly.

This phenomenon would explain the rapid disintegration and loss of cohesion and mechanical features of the sheet when it is wetted.

Comparative Tests Carried Out on Fibrous Sheets According to the Invention and Cardboard Sheets of the Same Weight.

Three tests were carried out: disintegration test; table test and ring crush test.

Disintegration test as described above. Compared with the NF Q34-020 standard, the test is carried out on a fibrous sheet or cardboard specimen measuring 8×9 cm², while using a stirring speed of 400 revolutions per minute. The temperature of water is 20° C.

Table Test

This involves an internal test method for determining the loss of stiffness when the specimen is wetted.

A rectangular specimen measuring 2.54 cm in width by 13 cm in length is cut in the machine direction.

A table with a horizontal plane surface, a vertical plane and a straight edge at the intersection between the horizontal plane surface and the vertical plane is used. The specimen is laid flat on the table perpendicular to the edge. A portion of the specimen (10 cm) extends beyond the edge.

In the dry state, the specimen makes an angle of 0° with the plane.

The specimen is wetted using a motorized burette, the end-piece of which is placed 1 cm above the test piece: 3 ml of water supplied in 6 s. The water is deposited at the centre of the test piece above the edge, at the point where the specimen is going to make an angle with the horizontal plane.

On being wetted, the specimen is folded around the edge: the bend angle relative to the horizontal plane is recorded 6 s after the water has been delivered.

Ring Crush Test

The loss of wet strength of a specimen is determined by establishing the ratio of the lateral compressive strength in the wet state to that in the dry state.

A specimen measuring 15 mm in width by 152.4 mm in length is cut in the machine direction.

The specimen is fixed to a ring-shaped support (as described in the standard ISO 12192:2002), placed between two plates, and then subjected to a compressive force at a rate of 10 mm/min. The maximum resistance force is recorded.

For the measurement in the wet state, the specimen fixed in the support is dipped in water during a time less than 2 seconds. The measurement is carried out immediately after the dipping.

Samples E2, E3 and E5 are laboratory made samples. Sample E6 is a pilot trial sample and E4 is an industrial trial sample.

Specimens (E1 to E6) of sheets produced according to processes I and II were tested, as were also cardboard control specimens (E7 and E8) of substantially the same weight. The fibres used were virgin fibres.

The detailed composition and features of the sheet specimens are reported in the Table. The disintegration time, loss of strength and residual wet strength relative to dry strength results measured according to the disclosed test methods, are excellent.

Disintegration NF Q34-020 Basis specimen of Table test Ring crush test Starch/ Weight 0 × 9 cm² (3 ml in 6 s) (N/15 mm) Reference Process Product Fibres content % g/m² Time (s) Angle (°) Dry Wet W/D (%) Invention II Lab E2 75% LF/25% SF Avedex 50% 260 10 90 >525 0.4 <1 I Lab E3 75% LF/25% SF Perfectacote 50% 285 10 90 400 ± 37 1.3 ± 0.2 <1 I E4 75% LF/25% SF Perfectacote 32% 280 <10 90 419 ± 40 0.9 ± 0.4 <1 I Lab E5 100% SF Perfectacote 28% 290  12-15 90 480to>525 0.8 ± 0.1 <1 I Pilot 100% SF Stackote 14% 288 <10-15 90 448 ± 63 1.4 ± 0.3 <1 E6 Standard E7 Recycle 280 >120 15 304 ± 29 21 ± 3  7 board fibres E8 Recycle 280 >120 15 273 ± 32 34 ± 3  12 fibres 

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A core comprising a helical winding of one or more strips comprising a fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m², being manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrating in water in less than 120 seconds, wherein the fibrous sheet comprises 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.
 25. A toilet paper roll comprising a core according to claim
 24. 26. A tampon applicator comprising a fibrous sheet having a basis weight of between 20 and 1000 g/m², being manufactured according to a wet papermaking process, and disintegrating in water in less than 120 seconds, wherein the fibrous sheet comprises 10 to 70% starch and at least 30% of papermaking fibres on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.
 27. The core of claim 24, wherein the fibrous sheet comprises 15 to 40% starch on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.
 28. The core of claim 24, wherein the fibrous sheet has a basis weight of between 100 and 600 g/m².
 29. The core of claim 24, wherein the disintegration time of the fibrous sheet in water, measured in accordance with the NF Q34-020 applied to a specimen of the sheet of 9×8 cm², is less than 50 seconds.
 30. The core of claim 24, wherein the loss of strength of the fibrous sheet measured according to the table test as reported in the specification, corresponds to the loss of strength of a specimen of said sheet forming an angle of at least 85° after having being wetted with water for a duration of 6 seconds.
 31. The core of claim 24, wherein, the residual wet strength of the fibrous sheet, as measured according to a ring crush test described in the specification, is less than 1% relative to that of its dry strength.
 32. The core of claim 24, wherein the starch is substantially uniformly distributed through a thickness of the fibrous sheet.
 33. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein the fibrous sheet comprises 15 to 40% starch on the basis of the total weight of the dry fibrous sheet.
 34. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein the fibrous sheet has a basis weight of between 100 and 600 g/m².
 35. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein the disintegration time of the fibrous sheet in water, measured in accordance with the NF Q34-020 applied to a specimen of the sheet of 9×8 cm², is less than 50 seconds.
 36. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein the loss of strength of the fibrous sheet measured according to the table test as reported in the specification, corresponds to the loss of strength of a specimen of said sheet forming an angle of at least 85° after having being wetted with water for a duration of 6 seconds.
 37. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein, the residual wet strength of the fibrous sheet, as measured according to a ring crush test described in the specification, is less than 1% relative to that of its dry strength.
 38. The tampon applicator of claim 26, wherein the starch is substantially uniformly distributed through a thickness of the fibrous sheet. 